叙利亚总统在抗议声中接受内阁辞职

Syria's state media say the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Naji al-Otari has resigned and President Bashar al-Assad accepted the Cabinet resignations on Tuesday, following more than a week of anti-government protests.

The Associated Press says the 32-member Cabinet will continue running the country's affairs until President Assad forms a new government. Earlier Tuesday, tens of thousands of Syrians took to the streets to rally in support of the government as the nation awaits an expected address by President Assad.

Government supporters poured into the streets of the capital Damascus and other major cities to take part in the government-sanctioned rallies. The demonstrators chanted and waved flags and pictures of the president. News reports say President Assad could announce an end to Syria's nearly 50-year-old emergency laws when he addresses the nation in the coming days.

The opposition protests represent the most serious threat to President Assad's 11-year-rule and the long-standing authority of his family. Syrian security officials have cracked down on the demonstrations, firing tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters. The U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch says at least 61 people have been killed since the unrest began. 

叙利亚国营电视台报导，叙利亚总理奥特里的内阁已经辞职，总统阿萨德星期二接受了他们的辞呈。此前发生了一个星期的反政府抗议。

美联社说，32人组成的内阁将继续管理国家事务，直到总统组建新政府。星期二早些时候，数以万计的民众上街集会，支持政府。与此同时，该国翘首以待叙利亚总统阿萨德预计发表的讲话。

政府支持者涌上首都大马士革和其它主要城市的街道，参加星期二政府批准的集会。示威者高呼口号，并挥舞着旗帜和阿萨德总统的照片。新闻报导说，在未来的几天内，阿萨德总统可能会在全国讲话时宣布结束叙利亚将近50年的紧急状态法。

反对派的抗议标志着对阿萨德总统11年统治以及他的家族长期拥有权威的最严重威胁。叙利亚安全官员镇压了示威活动，他们发射催泪瓦斯和实弹驱散抗议者。位于美国的人权观察组织说，自从叙利亚的动乱开始以来，至少有61人被打死。